To many, those simple assertions were radical notions --
splendid, gorgeous ones that went on to inspire a generation
of scholars.

Mr. Van Sertima, a Highland Park resident who taught at
Rutgers University's Africana Studies department for
more than 30 years, died May 25 of natural causes. He was
74.

During his life, the crusader of African culture wrote 15
books, lectured at more than 100 universities, and spoke
before Congress about his theories of pre-Columbian America.

An expert on African authors, he served on the Nobel
Prize committee from 1976 to 1980 to nominate candidates for
the literature prize. During that period, he also founded
the Journal of African Civilization, in 1979.

His best-seller, "They Came Before Columbus"
(1977), is now in its 29th edition. Critics said his
theories were thin on facts, but supporters said his
presentation of history was as rooted in fact as mainstream
versions of history.

Clement Price, professor of history and director of the
Rutgers Institute on Ethnicity, Culture, and the Modern
Experience, called the book seminal.

"It dared to challenge one of the largest
mythologies of Western civilization: Africans'
incapability to make contributions in the area of science,
discovery, global migration," he said.

The book inspired Africa scholars worldwide, people
"who wanted to know what smart black scholars (were)
thinking about," Price said. "It's the book
on everybody's bookshelf."

Rutgers history professor Norman Markowitz said
mainstream historians are "rewarded and praised, not
challenged, because what they say is what those with wealth
and power want to hear -- which one could never say about
Ivan."

Toni Morrison, the Nobel Prize-winning fiction writer, was the editor at Random House in the 1970s who insisted the company print "They Came Before Columbus," Price said....